Acid-condenser.



F. MOORE & J. A. HALL= AGID GONDENSER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.1S, 1910.

Patented Mar.14,1 91-1'.

lA/VETORS G) ,fiazierc'r]: 7720071 By John flf/cdl 4114 mylaaw ATTORNEYS UNITED straw-spawns. OFFICE.

rnnnnmox iuoonn AND JOHN A. HALL, or vroronm, nmrrsn coriu'mnrn, 04m ns.

" I ACID-CONDENSER.

.Applioationiiled April 13, 1910 Serial No.-555,173.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Fzmonnlox Moonn andJ 01m A. HALL, citizens of the Domin ion-of Canada, residing at Victoria, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented a new and useful Acid-Condenser, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to a condenser for acid vapor which though particularly designed for the condensation of nitric acid may-beap'plicable for use with other acids where similar requirements prevail.

The condenser comprises certain novel and advantageous features whereby, the vapors of the nitric acid are not only. economically condensed but owing to the particular arrangementof and provision in the condenser, the'obtained acid is free from oxids. These oxids are commonly present in nitric acid as condensed by the usual methods, and as their presence depreciates the commercial value of the acid their removal is frequently the subject of subsequent elaborate process oftreatment.

Generally described the condenser consists primarily of a chamber through which the vapor of the acid to be condensed is upwardly passed among a series of tubes within each of which a cooling medium is cir culated. The acid condenses on the outside of the tubes and trickling down them is brought in contact with the incoming acidvapor by which means the temperature of the condensed acid is sustained and the absorption of oxids is therefore avoided. This advantageous condition is further developed by dividing cit from the lower end of the condensing chamber by means ofperforated plates a section which is charged wi'th'brokenpumice or the like substance through which the condensed acid may percolate downward to the outlet while the incoming vapor rises through the interstices of the pumice. in intimate contact with the finely divided acid; so that practically the acid leaves the condenser at a temperature only slightly below its boiling point.

The invention also comprises the meanswhereby the cooling medium is circulated through the condensing tubes with a flow that 1s restricted in comparison with the cooling area exposed.

The'invention is particularly described in the followingspecification, reference being made to the-drawings by which it is accompanied, in which:

. Figure 1 is a vertical section through the condenser, one of the condensing tube I si-' phons only being shown'complete, Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, and Fig.3, an enlarged detail of the condensing tube siphon.

In these drawings 2 represents a condenser vessel of earthenware or other suitable material that will resist the action'of the acid. This vessel is preferably made up of a series of short lengths of earthenware pipes socketed together and having their joints sealed with-asbestos putty orthe like. The lower end of the vessel 2 is closed and is provided with a branch connection 3 through which the vapor to be condensed is delivered from the nitric acid pot or other source from which the vapor is derived which itis desired to condense. Toward the upper end of the vessel 2 is a similar branch 4 for delivery of the non-condensed gas for such turtlier treatment as itmay require. Atthe bottomv of the vessel 2 is, an outlet 5 from which the condensed acid is delivered which outlet may be furnished with a ground earthenware stop-cock.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 14', 1911.

Supported in any convenient manner, av

short distance above the vapor inlet 3 is a perforated grid 6 of. acid resisting material on which broken pumice stone or other suitable substance is loosely packed, the .same bein graded from the coarser material at the hot-tom to the finer at the. top. ,Just above this charge of pumice is a second perforated grid 7 on which rest the lower ends of condensing tubes 10 of glass or other suitable material which pass through an apertured plate 8 in the top of the vessel 2. The tubes 10 are sealed in this top plate 8 and the plate itself in the top of the vessel with asbestoes putty or the like, the" apertures being chambered to receive and retain it. These condensing tubes 10 are approximately one inch in internal diameter and have a thickness ofone sixteenth of an inch. Their lower ends are sealed and the upper ends are closed with stoppers 11 through which pass two glass tubes 12 and 13 about one quarter of an inch in diameter. The ,tube 12 of each extends fromnear the bottom of the tube 10 and passing through the stopper 11 is' turned downward and is dipped into a trough 14: extending around the vessel 2 in which trou 11 water or any other suitable 'cooling liquid is maintained at a constant level by any approved device such as a float closed valve. Each tube 12 is provided within its tube 18, with a small aperture or apertures just below the level I of the closing plug 11 through which it asses the reason .for which will be explained ater.

The tube 13 is carried from the upper end of the tube 10 through the stopper 11 and outside of it is also turned downward anddelivers at such a level in relation to that in the trough that with the plug 12 connected to it' by 10, it. will form a siphon to draw the'cooling fluid from the trough and circulate'it in the condensing tube 10. \Vith the object of having a sufiicient circulation the tube 13 is carried below the level of the lower end of 10 and delivers into a trough 21 for delivery to a drain. To aliorda means for regulating the circulation, each' tube,l3 may be furnished with a small stop-cock.

'The cooling medium may be circulated by constant pressure if thought desirable without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In use all of the combined tubes 10, 12

and 13 are filled with water or with the cool ing- .medium inany convenient manner, either by suction through the tube 13 or by delivering the liquid under pressure through 1 them. \Vhen the air in 10 is displaced by the liquid each tube 12 and 13 acts as a siphon the weight of the liquid'in the longer leg of 13 drawing the liquid from the trough 14 through the tube 12 and from the manner of connection within the tube 10 circu lating it within that tube. The liquid, warmed in condensing the acid, will be drawn from the top oflO through 13 and replaced by that drawn in through 12 from the trough 14: and delivered at the bottom of 10. The larger tube 10 is, merely an enlarged connection of-the siphoning tubes 12 and 13 oflI'ering an ample cooling surface within the condenser with a restricted cirv culation of the cooling medium limited to what can siphon through the smaller tubes 12 and 13 and susceptible of being regulated beneath that amount by the small stop-cock on the lower end of 13. This medium may consist of either water or preferably a solution of calciuinchlorid or of glycerin or l which will sustain that of the condensed acid and will thus. prevent the absorption of oxids. The acid after passing through the pumice is delivered through the stop-cock The small vents 20 in each tube 12 just within the stopper '11 of the tube 10 are .de-

signed to stop siphoning action of the tube 12 in theevent ofthe condensing tube 10 being brokeni With which provision in the event of the t-ubelO being broken the con-" tentsof that particular. tube 10 may be spilled into the acid but the tube 12 will not continue to siphon the cooling liquid from the trough 14, and the vents will not materially interfere with the action of 12 in delivering the incoming water to the bottom of the tube 10.

The condenser thus constructed and used forms a most eiiicient one: tor the purpose designed, for, as explained, the acid as it leaves the condenser needonly be slightly below its boiling point, at which temperature it will'not readily absorb oxids: Further the joints of .the 'condensin tubes where they'pass through the end p ate'are at the cooler end of the chamber and are not exposed to the heat of the incoming acid vapor which might be' detrimental to them in causing them to leak, and it is essential in the condensation of the nitric acid that all joints be maintained as tight as possible.

The non-condensed vapor passing ofi at 4 may be delivered to a second similar condenser but which will not require to be furnished with the pumice "screen, as the'acid condensed in it may be delivered through a central tubehole in the top end plate 8 of the first condenser and will pass through the pumice of it and derive'the advantage consequent thereon. The cooling fluid may also deliver from 21 of the second condenser into the trough 14 of the first. The association of the secondary condensers l'orms, however, no part of the invention as it is merely a multiplication of it.

We claim 1. An acid condenser, comprising in com.- binatidn, a vertically elongated chamber having'a passage toward the bottom through which the vapor of the acid to be condensed .is delivered, a perforated distributing plate across the chamber above the vapor inlet, condensing tubes arranged within the chamber in the space above the distributing plate, means for circulating a' cooling medium within said tubes, means for withdrawing the condensed acid from" the bottom of the chamber, and means for delivering the noncondensed vapor from the upper end of the chamber.

2. An acid condenser, comprising in combination, a vertically elongated chamber having a passage toward the bottom through which the vapor of the acid to be condensed is delivered to the condenser, a perforated distributing plate across the chamber'above the vapor inlet on which plate broken puniice or the like is arranged, a second p'erfo-, rated distributing plate a short distance above the first named plate, a series of condensing tubes lengthwise arran edjwithin the chaniberabove the second dlstributing plate, means for circulating a cooling medium within these tubes, means for withdrawing the condensed acid from beneath the lower distributing plate and means for delivering from the condenser the non-con-' densed acid vapor.

An acid condenser, comprising the combination with a chamber into which the vapor to be condensed is delivered, of a series a of condensing tubes each closed 'at the lower end and having the upper end projeetin" through and sealed in the. upper end of th condensingchamber, a trough adjacent to the upper end of the condensing chamber within which a cooling medium is maint-ained at a constant level, a siphon tube from said trough through the stoppered endof the condenser tube and delivering to its lower end, a siphon tube from the upper end of the condensing tube and delivering through the stopper to a drain trough outside of the condenser the outside leg of the siphon terminating below the level of the bottom of the condensing tube, and means for varying he flow through the siphon.

at. In an acid condenser having a series of tubes within which a cooling medium is circulated and to. the space surrounding which the vapor to be condensed is delivered, means whereby the delivery of the cooling medium to any condensing tube ceases in the event of the condensing tube being fl'llC': turcd.

5. In an acid condenser, a vertically. elongated chamber composed oi. a series of pipe sections secured together, end for end, a receptacle secured to the lower pipe section, said receptacle having an inlet, a pair of perforated diaphragms carried in the lower end of said chamber and spaced apart, broken acid proof substance held in said chamber between said diaphragms, a cap for closing the upper end of said chamber, a setof comlensing tubes carried by, said cap and projecting into said chamber and resting on the upper one of said diaphragms, means for delivering a cooling fluid into said condensing tubes and withdrawing said fluid from said condensing tubes to effect a circulation, said chamber having an outlet u-...ar its upper end, and said rcce )tacle having an outlet through which con ensed acid may be withdrawn.

6. In a condensing apparatus, a condensing tube closed at one end, a stopper for closing the other end of said tube, an intake tube projecting through said stopper and terminating adjacent to the bottom of said condensing tube, said intake tube having an aperture adjacent to said stopper, an ofltake tube projecting through said stopper into said condensing tube with its inner end terminating below said aperture, the outer ends of said intake and ofi'take tubes being in different horizontal planes to form a siphon. 7. In an acid condenser, an. elongated vessel having a closed bottom, a diaphragm mounted in said vessel above said bottom, a second diaphragm mounted in said vessel above said first diaphragm, a condensing and distributing substance in the space between said diaphragms, a cover for said vessel, a set of condensing tubes-carried by said cover, said condensing tubes each having a closed end to rest on the second mentioned diaphra m and having an open end projected a ove said cover, a. stopper for the open end of each tube, a fluid intake tube projected through said stopper, and a fluid offtake tube projected through said stop er, and means for causing a circulation of iid through said intake and ofi'take tubes and through said condensing tubes.

8. In an acid condenser, an elongated vessel having a closed bottom, a diaphragm ,mounted in said passage above saidbottom, a second diaphragm mounted in said vessel above said first diaphragm, a condensing and distributing substance in the space between said diaphragms, a cover for said vessel, a-se't of condensing tubes carried by said cover, said condensing tubes each having'a closed end to rest on the second mentioned diaphragm and having an open end projected above said cover, a stop-- per for the open end of each tube, a fluid intake tube projected through said stopper,

a fluid ofi'take'tube projected through said stopper, means for causing a circulation of fluid through said intake and oiftake tubes and through saidv condensing tubes, and means for directing or stopping said fluid circulation in a condensing tube in the event that the respective condensing tube becomes broken.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK MOORE.

JOHN A. HALL. \Vitnesses:

J. WHATLEY AsHLEY,

A. H. WYLLIE. 

